Recently I came across a site promising to offer free resources to job seekers. The idea is that you can submit your story and someone will log on to be your free mentor. Mentors can be “free” or “fee.”
Okay, think about this. Who’s going to offer free services?
The people seeking mentors give their full names. I hope they’re pseudonyms, because it’s not a good idea to share your career challenges in public, even on a site like this.
“Victoria,” seeking a mentor, wrote:
“I was laid off from my job as a planner. Now I’m working in banking. Not sure if I like this job, but how do I know when to quit? I also seem to have communication and work-life balance issues.”
I disguised the details, but Victoria really did have all those challenges.
If you absolutely can’t afford private coaching, look for legitimate free services. Some states have free consultants available in unemployment offices. The Small Business Administration offers help if you’re thinking of going out on your own. Consider a course at a junior college or continuing education program. The quality will vary a great deal, but then again, so does private consulting.
I don’t happen to think that “anything is better than nothing.” However, if you find someone who’s supportive, just being able to talk out your feelings and express your concerns may help.
If you’d like to work with me one-on-one, see https://midlifecareerstrategy.com/career-strategy-session.